Football News

Why Salah and Mane situations should make Liverpool more attractive to Timo Werner – Rio Ferdinand

By Harry Edwards

Published: 21:25, 26 March 2020

RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner could opt to join Liverpool due to the uncertain futures of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, according to Rio Ferdinand.

Since joining Die Roten Bullen in their maiden Bundesliga campaign, Werner has made headlines for his goalscoring exploits and has been linked with a move away from RB Leipzig.

Like many bright stars in the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich are often tipped as a potential destination for the 24-year-old, although he is also being linked with a Premier League switch.

Who will Timo Werner join? Five things to know…

  • Timo Werner has scored 27 goals in 36 games across all competitions this season.
  • The 24-year-old is being linked with a move away from RB Leipzig.
  • Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea are among the Premier League clubs reportedly interested.
  • Rio Ferdinand believes the futures of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah could play into Werner’s decision to join Liverpool.
  • Both Mane and Salah are being linked with leaving Liverpool.

Among those reportedly interested from the Premier League are Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea who will be looking to add to their squads further ahead of the 2020/21 campaign.

Although the future of the 2019/20 Premier League campaign is uncertain, Liverpool have had an unforgettable year, going close to winning their first league title in 30 years to add to last season’s Champions League glory.

But they will be looking to build on their successes, to avoid complacency, and Werner is rumoured to be one of their targets as Jurgen Klopp hopes to bolster his front line.

The Reds currently boast Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah as their attacking stars but beyond the trio, Klopp’s quality options are thin.

And Ferdinand believes there is some uncertainty surrounding the future of Salah and Mane, the latter being linked to Real Madrid, which could help Werner make his decision to join Liverpool.

Speaking during an Instagram Q&A session, Ferdinand said: “What he’s been doing for his club, he’s been playing particularly well he is their goal threat and so, if I’m Liverpool, I 100 per cent take him because they haven’t got that back-up for the front-three at the moment.

“If one of them gets injured for a sustained amount of time, they haven’t got anyone – as well as Divock Origi has done, the Champions League exploits, I’d want more than that.

“If I was Werner I’d be thinking: ‘I don’t think Salah is gonna be here that much longer, Mane might get bought out of here as well so I could get my chance that way’ but also I’d be thinking there’s enough games in the season to get games and I can make an impact, try and push my way in.”

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But Ferdinand did not rule out the possibility of Werner joining either Chelsea or Manchester United, with the former looking for a first-class striker with Tammy Abraham losing form before his injury layoff.

“But there’s other clubs… Chelsea I think are interested in him. He would be massive for Chelsea, an unbelievable signing for Chelsea.

“I think United would go for him as well. I think he’d be great for Manchester United, definitely.

“Another one added to that great group of players that they’ve got up front.”

Werner: My playing style would suit Liverpool

Werner has always been closely linked with a move to Liverpool and added to rumours of a move after helping RB Leipzig beat Tottenham Hotspur in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie in February.

“There is a lot to suggest that my style of play would suit there (Liverpool),” he said, before calling Klopp the best coach in the world.

Werner’s goal against Spurs was his fourth in the Champions League and helped RB Leizpig knock last season’s finalists out of the competition. It adds to the 21 goals he has scored in 27 Bundesliga appearances, with only Robert Lewandowski managing more in the German top flight.